Eleven years ago, I fell head-over-heels for a horse that was unable to perform in a competitive capacity and had been "thrown away." She was only 15 years old. I was astonished to think that a living being could be so casually disregarded simply because she was not usable in the format for which she had been bred. 

 

When I met Annie, she was lame, underweight, and her spirit was clearly broken, but I felt something, for her that sent me headlong into the world of equine rehabilitation. I studied wellness modalities, including bodywork, hoof rehabilitation, and equine nutrition. I also educated myself on horse keeping practices that serve the emotional and physiological wellbeing of the horse. 

 

As I educated myself, and championed to help her find her spirit again, it became apparent to me that she was changing the course of my life. I became passionate, and often downright angry, about the fate of these noble animals. I couldn't not advocate for them. The real value of this horse had absolutely nothing to do with how fast she ran or how high she jumped. Her companionship, sensitivity, and willingness to trust again spoke loudly about the qualities that are often overlooked when one decides to journey with a horse. 

 

A Farm For Annie is a nonprofit organization that honors the retired horse. With their outstanding gentleness and curiosity, the horses contribute in a way that deeply touches those who are willing to befriend them. The horses and I, along with a team of retired human professionals, have created an organization that specifically endeavors to offer enrichment programs where kindness, curiosity, and respect are reciprocal. 

 

Please join us in our efforts to expand the capacity of the human heart.

 

—Catherine Persun, Director